Emotional processing during eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy of Vietnam veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder

Results suggest that eye movements do not play a significant role in processing of traumatic information in EMDR.

Article Abstract 

“This study examined emotional processing and outcome in 17 Vietnam veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who underwent eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, with and without the eye movement component, in a crossover design. Results supported the occurrence of partial emotional processing, but there were no differences in its extent in the eye-movement versus eyes-fixed conditions. Therapy produced a modest to moderate overall improvement, mostly on the Impact of Event Scale. There was slightly more improvement in the eyes-fixed than eye-movement condition. There was little association between the extent of emotional processing and therapeutic outcome. In our hands, EMDR was at least as efficacious for combat-related PTSD as imaginal flooding proved to be in a previous study, and was better tolerated by subjects. However, results suggest that eye movements do not play a significant role in processing of traumatic information in EMDR and that factors other than eye movements are responsible for EMDR’s therapeutic effect. This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.”

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Pitman, R. K., Orr, S. P., Altman, B., Longpre, R. E., Poire, R. E., & Macklin, M. L. (1996). Emotional processing during eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy of Vietnam veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 37(6), 419-429. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-440X(96)90025-5